Second-year Buffalo Bills wide receiver Zay Jones was arrested in March after a troubling naked fight with his brother, Cayleb, who plays wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings. The team added Jones to the active roster Sunday. After practice, he spoke publicly for the first time since the arrest.
Jones said he was "grateful" to be alive, though he didn't want to relive the incident, which he described as "very traumatic."
"I'm grateful," Jones told the media at Bills camp Sunday. "I could have lost my life, so I'm grateful to just be here. To be on this field, to be with my teammates, to see my family. I don't think there's any other way to describe it other than thankful and grateful."
TMZ released video of the incident, in which Jones said he was going to "fight for Jesus." His brother restrained him from harming himself, per witnesses. Jones didn't specify exactly what happened. "I think I would be doing myself a very big disservice if I went back to there," he said. "That moment was very traumatic for me and my family. To rehash that now at this point in time wouldn't be doing me any good. I know you have a job to do, so I'm not trying to...I'm just trying to look forward. That's where I'm at right now. A lot of positive things are happening in my life and I'm very grateful for it."
Jones' family agreed to pay for repairs to the apartment building where the incident occurred, and as a result, he won't face criminal charges.
Last season, the rookie out of East Carolina caught 27 passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns. He's expected to compete for the Bills' No. 3 receiver position.
